Written Answers Wednesday 21 November 2007

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment it will make in sport in the years leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: As the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced in the 2007 Strategic Spending Review on 14 November, the baseline funding for sport will increase by 25% over the period 2008-11.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment it will provide for the development of sport in the north east in the years leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: It is not possible to identify additional investment in sport to the north east of Scotland at this time.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage competing nations to use the north east as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government would like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will build on work already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possible, including facilities in the north east, are used as training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games. Further information on how we intend to ensure that all parts of Scotland benefit from the Commonwealth Games will be published for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what legacy the 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave for the Grampian area.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has a very clear commitment to ensuring that the whole of Scotland benefits from the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

  We will work with relevant agencies and local authorities to ensure that, Scottish businesses are well-placed to bid for contracts arising from the games, that visitors to the games are encouraged to travel to other parts of the country, and that youngsters everywhere are inspired to take up sport.

  Further information on how we intend to deliver a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be published for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a consultation to ensure that the delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games will benefit all local authorities in Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: Within the first 100 days, we will consult on an outline plan of how we intend to secure a lasting legacy for everyone in Scotland from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish a timetable for delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on key dates for the delivery of the games are set out in the Glasgow 2014 Candidate City File which can be found at: http://www.glasgow2014.com/Our-Bid/Candidate-City-File .

  Further information on how we intend to deliver a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be published for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.

Agriculture

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to avoid the gap in the 2007-08 agri-environment programme in this year’s budget.

Richard Lochhead: There is sufficient funding to cover the cost of all existing agri-environment agreements and for new agreements. We are currently unable to enter into new agri-environment agreements due to delays in the approval of the Scottish Rural Development Plan and the consequent absence of a legal basis for new agreements. My officials have asked the Commission to advise whether they can envisage any exceptional mechanism for approval of a one year extension of agri-environment agreements expiring in 2007 and I await the Commission’s response.

Agriculture

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to any concerns that deer farmers may not be able to access common agricultural policy (CAP) funding in future as their inclusion in single farm payment schemes will depend on sufficient entitlements being available in the CAP national reserve.

Richard Lochhead: The possibility of providing funding from the national reserve component of the single farm payment scheme to the deer farming sector is currently being considered in the context of the consultation on Reform of the EU Fruit and Vegetable Regime and Deer Farming: Proposed Changes to the Single Farm Payment Scheme .

Agriculture

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it is proposed that fruit and vegetable farmers might be included in future in single farm payment support through top slicing of existing single farm payments but deer farmers might be included only if funds are available in the common agricultural policy national reserve.

Richard Lochhead: Council Regulation 1182/2007 Laying down specific rules as regards the fruit and vegetable sector, amending Directives 2001/112/EC and 2001/113/EC and Regulations (EEC) No 827/68, (EC) No 2200/96, (EC) No 2201/96, (EC) No 2826/2000, (EC) No 1782/2003 and (EC) No 318/2006 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2202/96 , contains specific measures to allow the integration of the fruit and vegetable sector into the single farm payment scheme. These new measures include the option of top slicing existing payments if there is insufficient funding to cover the value of new fruit and vegetable entitlements.

  EC Regulation 1182/2007 does not include any provisions which would allow the integration of other previously unsupported sectors, including deer farming, into the single farm payment scheme. For this reason, the only way in which new payments to deer farmers might be funded is through the restructuring option of the national reserve provision, under Article 42(5) of EC Regulation 1782/2003, however, this Regulation specifically excludes the option of applying a further linear cut in existing payment entitlement values in order to fund new claims made under Article 42(5).

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that information about the risk and management of lymphoedema is provided to patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are responsible for meeting the health care needs of those with conditions such as lymphoedema. Services, including the provision of information, for those with conditions such as lymphoedema are primarily the responsibility of NHS boards to plan and to fund, in the light of the needs of their resident population, from the unified budgets which are made available to them from the government.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that training in primary and secondary breast cancer treatments is available and updated to support GPs working in rural or remote medical practices.

Nicola Sturgeon: Regional and local cancer networks are responsible for ensuring that GPs are updated and supported with regard to training for any new developments in the management of cancer. In addition, these networks monitor compliance with treatment guidelines, including work undertaken by GPs in remote and/or rural areas.

  GPs and secondary care doctors are also expected to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD). NHS boards and the GP Post Graduate Deaneries, through NHS Education for Scotland, facilitate this on-going education and training and GPs in remote and rural areas can access such support both directly and online.

  The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, which assesses, advises and updates on new treatments, is sent to all GP Practices in Scotland. For new drugs, the Scottish Medicines Consortium assess all new drugs for cancer shortly after licensing and issue guidance to NHS boards to ensure they are prescribed by clinicians with the correct level of expertise.

Central Heating

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why figures for the central heating programme are published by postcode area and not constituency or local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: The central heating programme is a national programme and performance figures are collected at postcode level as this is the most useful level of data for monitoring performance to ensure that the programme is delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Central Heating

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of applicants under the central heating programme received their new system within five months of application in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not held centrally. However, information is held on the national average waiting time from application to installation and is currently being reported by the managing agent as being between five and six months.

Central Heating

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is between application and installation under the central heating programme in each local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Information is not held in the format requested. However, information is held on the national average waiting time from application to installation and this is currently being reported by the managing agent as being between five and six months.

Central Heating

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the performance of Scottish Gas in delivering the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Over 7,000 central heating systems have been installed since April 2007 and additional resources to install around 1,500 extra systems has been provided on top of the 12,000 installations programmed for this financial year. In order to improve performance, particularly in view of the number of installations undertaken in island and rural areas, Communities Scotland holds regular performance monitoring meetings with Scottish Gas aimed at improving this performance and other aspects of programme delivery.

Central Heating

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) new central heating systems in houses with no previous central heating and (b) replacement central heating systems have been installed under the central heating programme in each year since 2002.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  

 Year
 Number of Systems Installed
 Replacement Systems
 New 
(First-Time) Systems


 2001-02
 3,560
 320
 3,240


 2002-03
 5,550
 999
 4,551


 2003-04
 10,200
 3,468
 6,732


 2004-05
 10,768
 5,922
 4,846


 2005-06
 9,796
 6,859
 2,937


 2006-07 (Eaga)
 3,426
 2,432
 994


 2006-07 
(Scottish Gas)
 2,227
 2,027
 200


 2007-08 
(until 31 October)
 3,314
 2,817
 497


 Totals
 48,791
 24,835
 23,956



  Notes:

  1. The figures provided are only for the main programme i.e. over 60s. The over 80 part of the programme and the pension credit part of the programme are by definition replacement of existing systems.

  2. The over 80s part of the programme started in May 2004 and the guaranteed element of pension credit started in January 2007.

Central Heating

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the First Minister’s commitment at First Minister’s Question Time on 20 September 2007, in relation to the review of the central heating programme, that "the Government’s purpose is an enhanced and improved scheme" ( Official Report , c. 1971), what the timescale is for the review of the programme, who will be consulted under the review, and what options for enhancement of the programme are being considered

Stewart Maxwell: Officials are currently working on the detail of the review. When the review is complete I look forward to discussing our future approach to fuel poverty with stakeholders including the Local Government and Communities Committee. I would expect the review to be completed in the New Year and I would hope to discuss with the committee thereafter.

Charities and Benevolent Fundraising Regulations

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Charities and Benevolent Fundraising Regulations will be laid.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government expects to lay the Charities and Benevolent Fundraising Regulations next year.

Dentistry

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists there were per head of population in each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Shona Robison: In respect of NHS boards the latest available information is shown in the following table:

  

 
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Head Count
 Rate
 Head Count
 Rate
 Head Count
 Rate


 Scotland
 2,153
 42.4
 2,301
 45.2
 2,474
 48.3


 Argyll and Clyde
 182
 43.8
 199
 48.1
 x
 x


 Ayrshire and Arran
 147
 40.0
 150
 40.9
 163
 44.5


 Borders
 39
 35.7
 42
 38.3
 46
 41.7


 Dumfries and Galloway
 43
 29.1
 44
 29.7
 61
 41.2


 Fife
 140
 39.5
 171
 47.9
 177
 49.3


 Forth Valley
 112
 39.7
 119
 41.8
 122
 42.6


 Grampian
 191
 36.4
 198
 37.6
 221
 41.7


 Greater Glasgow
 474
 54.7
 489
 56.4
 x
 x


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde4 
 x
 x
 x
 x
 654
 54.9


 Highland
 92
 43.5
 100
 46.8
 x
 x


 Highland4
 x
 x
 x
 x
 163
 53.1


 Lanarkshire
 234
 42.1
 237
 42.5
 235
 42.1


 Lothian
 384
 48.8
 395
 49.8
 422
 52.7


 Orkney
 9
 46.2
 11
 56.2
 12
 60.7


 Shetland
 12
 54.7
 13
 59.1
 16
 73.1


 Tayside
 183
 47.2
 211
 54.1
 239
 61.0


 Western Isles
 10
 38.1
 14
 53.1
 15
 56.9



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Notes:

  x. Not applicable

  1. The number of NHS non-salaried and salaried principals, assistants and vocational dental practitioners, based on location of dental practice.

  2. An NHS general dental practitioner may have more than one contact with an NHS board if he/she has more than one practice, or a contact with more than one NHS board if he/she practises in more than one NHS board area. As a result, the sum of the number of dentists in each NHS board area exceeds the number of dentists practising in Scotland.

  3. Population relates to the total Scottish population, not just the population registered with an NHS dentist. Population rates are based on the General Register Office for Scotland mid-year population estimates as at June 2004, 2005 and 2006.

  4. The dissolution of Argyll and Clyde took effect from 1 April 2006. From this date, NHS Argyll and Clyde patients are included in figures for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland.

  In respect of local authority areas latest available information is shown in the following table.

  

 
 2005
 2006
 
 2007
 


 Head Count
 Rate
 Head Count
 Rate
 Head Count
 Rate


 Scotland
 2,153
 42.4
 2,301
 45.2
 2,474
 48.3


 Aberdeen City
 94
 46.2
 100
 49.4
 109
 53.9


 Aberdeenshire
 73
 31.4
 76
 32.3
 83
 34.8


 Angus
 44
 40.5
 53
 48.5
 58
 52.8


 Argyll and Bute
 40
 43.9
 46
 50.6
 48
 52.5


 City of Edinburgh
 245
 54.0
 257
 56.1
 273
 58.9


 Clackmannanshire
 15
 31.1
 19
 39.1
 18
 36.8


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
 10
 38.1
 14
 53.1
 15
 56.9


 Dumfries and Galloway
 43
 29.1
 44
 29.7
 61
 41.2


 Dundee City
 84
 59.2
 91
 64.0
 104
 73.2


 East Ayrshire
 41
 34.2
 43
 36.0
 56
 46.9


 East Dunbartonshire
 66
 61.9
 70
 66.1
 68
 64.5


 East Lothian
 51
 55.7
 49
 53.4
 50
 53.9


 East Renfrewshire
 51
 56.9
 53
 59.2
 54
 60.5


 Falkirk
 57
 38.7
 61
 40.9
 73
 48.8


 Fife
 140
 39.5
 171
 47.9
 177
 49.3


 Glasgow City
 332
 57.5
 335
 57.9
 345
 59.4


 Highland
 92
 43.5
 100
 46.8
 114
 52.9


 Inverclyde
 32
 38.8
 35
 42.6
 41
 50.3


 Midlothian
 26
 32.7
 26
 32.8
 31
 39.1


 Moray
 29
 33.1
 28
 31.8
 32
 35.9


 North Ayrshire
 52
 38.2
 51
 37.5
 52
 38.4


 North Lanarkshire
 143
 44.3
 139
 43.0
 141
 43.5


 Orkney Islands
 9
 46.2
 11
 56.2
 12
 60.7


 Perth and Kinross
 65
 47.3
 81
 58.5
 86
 61.6


 Renfrewshire
 84
 49.2
 90
 52.9
 91
 53.7


 Scottish Borders
 39
 35.7
 42
 38.3
 46
 41.7


 Shetland Islands
 12
 54.7
 13
 59.1
 16
 73.1


 South Ayrshire
 56
 50.1
 57
 51.0
 57
 51.0


 South Lanarkshire
 138
 45.2
 145
 47.3
 139
 45.2


 Stirling
 43
 49.8
 47
 54.1
 37
 42.1


 West Dunbartonshire
 36
 39.1
 39
 42.7
 41
 44.9


 West Lothian
 78
 47.9
 81
 49.5
 86
 51.9



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Notes:

  x. Not applicable.

  1. The number of NHS non-salaried and salaried principals, assistants and vocational dental practitioners, based on location of dental practice.

  2. An NHS general dental practitioner may have more than one contact with a local authority if he/she has more than one practice, or a contact with more than one local authority if he/she practises in more than one local authority. As a result, the sum of the number of dentists in each local authority area exceeds the number of dentists practising in Scotland.

  3. Population relates to the total Scottish population, not just the population registered with an NHS dentist. Population rates are based on the General Register Office for Scotland mid-year population estimates as at June 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Environment

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory is expected to appear in the Public Register of Contaminated Land and what the legal penalty is for failure to register.

Richard Lochhead: Decisions about entering contaminated sites on a public register of contaminated land are a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Renfrewshire Council. Only sites formally identified by a local authority as contaminated land under the provisions of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are placed by them on a public register and there is no legal penalty prescribed in the legislation linked to failure to register.

  Statutory guidance issued in connection with the act advises that identification and registration should be made only when other options for remediating the land are not available. As development proposals for the site of the former Royal Ordnance Factory at Bishopton are currently the subject of an outline planning application any contamination issues will be dealt with through the planning process and not through identification under Part IIA.

  Details of the matters to be placed on the public registers maintained by local authorities are prescribed in the Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2000.

Environment

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the technology exists to make safe, from a public health perspective, the contaminated material present on the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory site.

Richard Lochhead: It is a matter for the planning authority to satisfy itself that applications to develop contaminated land include suitable and appropriate remediation measures. There are a number of different technologies and treatment methods currently available and with continuing advancement in technology, innovative methods of managing contaminated soils are continuously under development or trial. Where planning applications are approved, conditions should be put in place to ensure that remediation action prevents or removes the risk of significant harm to human health or the wider environment. Planning authorities may consult with health authorities, local authority environmental health departments, Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in determining the appropriate level of remediation in individual cases.

Equal Opportunities

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how equal opportunities agendas will be addressed by its budget and what policies and resources it will commit to this area.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how its budget will support the mainstreaming of equal opportunities issues across public services.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish budget reflects our commitment to ensuring that our spending plans are for all of Scotland. We have stated in the budget document that we will work to ensure our investment and policies promote equality and do not perpetuate inequality or disadvantage. Our equality impact assessment process will be key to helping deliver equality across the range of Scottish Government policy and activity.

  Our equalities work will continue to be based on a mainstreaming approach. We will take forward our responsibilities under the public equality duties, working in partnership with the public sector around advancing equality and providing support and capacity for equality communities and voluntary organisations to engage with policy makers and help inform public policy development and service delivery.

  The equality budget, which has been increased for each of the next three years, will enable us to provide frontline support and a suite of measures to tackle violence against women and address issues for children and young people affected by domestic abuse. It will enable us to promote equality of opportunity and fair treatment for the wellbeing of people in Scotland through funding activities which promote understanding about equality, foster respect, challenge discrimination, prejudice and disadvantage and help develop the capacity of people who experience barriers because of their race, gender, age, disability, faith or sexual orientation.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid to farmers and crofters by the (a) Executive and (b) UK Government as a result of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 and what proportion of this was compensation for (i) the culling of livestock and (ii) economic losses.

Richard Lochhead: All costs were met by the UK Government. Based on the Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture, the total compensation payments made for animals culled during the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak was £189,713 million. No other payments were made for economic losses.

Fuel Poverty

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, according to the Scottish House Condition Survey, how many households would have been in fuel poverty in each year since 2002 if the average council tax bill used in the calculations had remained at 2002 levels.

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, under the Scottish House Condition Survey, how many households would have been in fuel poverty if the average council tax bill used in the calculations had remained at 2002 levels, broken down by household type.

Stewart Maxwell: The information requested requires special analyses from the Scottish House Condition Survey data set. It is estimated that programming and verification of the calculations will be complete by 19 December 2007. I will write the member when the analysis is completed and place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44090).

Gaelic

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the policies that it has put in place to support the Gaelic language since May 2007.

Linda Fabiani: In earlier answers, I made clear that we will build on the progress that has been made in this area and follow through on the wide range of manifesto commitments which we made. The most immediate need is to maintain support for current policies in relation to Gaelic-medium education, broadcasting, implementation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act, and the National Plan and make further significant progress with these. Our manifesto commitments for Gaelic reflect these priority areas for development. We are making good progress in shaping this into a practical programme of action for the promotion of Gaelic in Scotland and relevant announcements will be made in due course. Significant increases for Gaelic development are included within our planned budget for the next spending review period announced on 14 November 2007, amounting to an increase of £7.5 million new funding over the period.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what birth rate planning has been undertaken in respect of health service provision.

Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual NHS boards and the Scottish Government would expect them to keep birth rate and other demographic factors affecting health care services under review.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards are required to address issues of birth rate planning, given present demographic trends.

Shona Robison: This is a matter for individual NHS boards and the Scottish Government would expect them, in the normal processes of service planning, to take into account local factors such as birth rate.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to its 2008-11 spending plans for health and wellbeing, how the increase in funding for distinction awards from £23.9 million to £30 million in 2011 will be allocated and what the eligibility criteria are for these payments.

Nicola Sturgeon: Distinction awards are determined by the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA) and the number of new awards that are payable are determined by retirals, resignations, deaths and the recommendations of the Doctors’ and Dentists Remuneration Body (DDRB). The criteria for Distinction Awards paid to Consultants in the NHS is set out in the guide to the NHS Consultants’ Distinction Awards Scheme in Scotland which is published annually by SACDA. The latest version of the guide for 2008 is available on the internet at the following website http://www.sacda.scot.nhs.uk .

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for further consideration of the proposed £2,000 first-time buyers’ grant as promised by the Deputy First Minister in her statement on housing on 31 October 2007 ( Official Report c. 2835).

Stewart Maxwell: Providing direct grants to first-time buyers is one of the proposals set out in our discussion document Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland which was published on 31 October. We are considering this as a potential future element of the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time buyers (LIFT). We are inviting comments on the proposal through the Firm Foundations consultation exercise. The normal Scottish Government consultation timescales apply. Therefore the consultation period runs until 25 January 2008.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the organisations and individuals that will be consulted as part of the further consideration of the proposed £2,000 first-time buyers’ grant.

Stewart Maxwell: Providing direct grants to first-time buyers is one of the proposals set out in our discussion document Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland which was published on 31 October 2007. We are seeking views on direct grants as part of the Firm Foundations consultation exercise.

  We have provided some 1,500 stakeholders with electronic or hard copies of Firm Foundations inviting them to submit their comments on our proposals by the deadline of 25 January 2008. The stakeholders include MSPs, local authorities, tenants’ representative organisations, registered social landlords, voluntary, charity and equality groups, professional and representative bodies, academic institutions, government agencies and public bodies. The consultation exercise is also open to the general public and can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland: A discussion document.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether further consideration of the proposed £2,000 first-time buyers’ grant will include an option to not to proceed with the SNP manifesto commitment on this issue.

Stewart Maxwell: The consultation exercise on the government’s discussion document Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland asks "should the government provide direct cash grants to first-time buyers". We are seeking responses on grants to first-time buyers because we want to take account of the range of views being expressed to inform development of LIFT (Low Cost Initiative for First-time Buyers) in the future.

Less Favoured Areas

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extra £40 million in Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments made by it in 2006-07 was additional money.

Richard Lochhead: The £40 million was a supplementary payment in recognition of costs associated with the shift in timing of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments.

Less Favoured Areas

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive from where in the Environment and Rural Development budget the £40 million in Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments made by it in 2006-07 came.

Richard Lochhead: The £40 million was met out of the resources voted by the Parliament for the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme Level 3 of the Rural Development Level 2 in the 2006-2007 Budget. Of the £61 million shown in the Budget, £48.5 million was the national funding DEL element, from which the £40 million payment was made.

Less Favoured Areas

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits were identified as being delivered by the allocation of £40 million in Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments in 2006-07 and how these were measured.

Richard Lochhead: The Rural Development Regulation 1698/2005 states that payments to farmers in areas with handicaps should contribute, through continued use of agricultural land, to maintaining the countryside as well as maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems. Research by the Macaulay Institute and others, for the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department in 2006, found that Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) made an important contribution to the viability of Less Favoured Area agriculture.

Marine Environment

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is undertaking with external bodies regarding ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has discussed, with both Forth Ports plc and Scottish Natural Heritage, the completion of an appropriate assessment of proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfer in the Firth of Forth, including implications of the proposals for three Natura sites.

  In particular, I met with Forth Ports’ representatives on 5 June 2007, when I was updated on their consideration of the proposals, and the First Minister met with Forth Ports’ representatives on 31 July 2007, when he was informed of progress made by the on-going appropriate assessment.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whose responsibility it is to decide which organisations and individuals may join the Scottish Seals Forum and its sub-group, the Scottish Seals Working Group.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Seals Forum and its sub-group, the Scottish Seals Working Group, were set up by the Scottish Government to bring stakeholders together to exchange information, relevant to the management of Scottish seal populations, and develop a co-ordinated approach. It is not itself directly involved in seal management. The Scottish Government makes all final decisions about which individuals and organisations may be invited to join.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the status, remit and composition is of the Lismore Seal Management Group.

Richard Lochhead: The Lismore Seal Management Group is convened by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and had its first meeting in December 2004. I understand it began as a meeting involving representatives of fish farm companies and relevant authorities and that the membership was widened last year to include other organisations with a commercial interest in seals. The group discusses the management of seals and predator control at fish farms in the Lismore area. The group is not a formal management group for the Lismore Special Area of Conservation.

  The organisations represented in the group are Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll Charter Boats Association, Argyll District Salmon Fisheries Board, Kames, Lochaber District Salmon Fisheries Board, Mainstream, Marine Harvest, Scottish Sea Farms, Scottish Society for the Protection of Animals, Sea Mammal Research Unit, SNH and Strathclyde Police.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what seal management groups there are; what areas they cover; what the (a) status, (b) remit and (c) composition is of each, and whether they are co-ordinated centrally and, if so, by whom.

Richard Lochhead: I understand the only seal management group in Scotland is the Lismore Seal Management Group that is convened by Scottish Natural Heritage. It should be noted that this is not a formal management group for Lismore Special Area of Conservation.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6190 on 21 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Maternity Services

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken of increasing demand for neonatal services, in particular nursing services, in the development of health policy.

Shona Robison: We are on track to achieve the current target of attracting 12,000 nurses and midwives into NHSScotland by 2007. This target is associated with all qualified nurses and midwives, including neonatal nurses. In addition a Paediatric and Neonatal Nursing subgroup of the Nursing and Midwifery Workload and Workforce Planning Steering Group has worked closely with Scottish Neonatal Nurses to develop a workforce tool which addresses the needs of neonatal services in Scotland.

  The Scottish Government has commissioned NHS Education Scotland to work with Higher Education institutions to deliver the Neonatal Nurses Education Programme to ensure all members of staff have the necessary skills and competencies required to deliver the appropriate service to neonates in Scotland.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements in mental health services will be forthcoming, other than in relation to the State Hospital and the services of Royal Edinburgh Hospital and in Dumfries and Galloway.

Shona Robison: Work continues with NHS boards and partner agencies to deliver the changes and improvements set out in the published timetabled targets for mental health services in Scotland (Bib. number 41410). Strategies are in place across Scotland involving a range of initiatives including capital build and other redesign of mental health services which will lead to improved services.

Music

Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is proposed to maintain funding for the Youth Music Initiative beyond the current financial year and, if so, at what level.

Linda Fabiani: I can confirm that our budget plans include a proposal to maintain funding to the Youth Music Initiative over the period of the Spending Review at the current level of £10 million per annum.

Police

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4206 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 September 2007, whether it plans to recruit 150 new recruits in this financial year in addition to the 550 recruits due to complete their induction training at the Scottish Police College during 2007-08.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes. As a result of the government’s announcement on 12 November 2007, Chief Constables will be able to recruit an additional 150 police officers this financial year, over and above the recruitment plans they would have developed under the previous administration.

Police

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are due to leave active service in 2007-08.

Kenny MacAskill: Approximately 470 police officers will be eligible to retire with full pension rights during this financial year.

Sport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional facilities it will provide to support sport in the years leading up to 2014.

Stewart Maxwell: Plans are already in place for the development of additional sport facilities. However, it is vital we take a strategic view of the sport facility requirement across Scotland to ensure we have the right facilities in the right location. This means that we in government will take the lead in promoting a more strategic approach, which we hope will be replicated by the local authorities.

Sport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in constructing a north-east regional sports centre in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by local athletes before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in constructing a north-east regional sports centre in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by international teams as a training base before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Stewart Maxwell: Work is currently underway on the construction of the Chris Anderson Stadium multi-sport facility which will be suitable for use by both local and international athletes and teams.

  Our investment of £7 million in the development of this facility is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the provision of quality sports facilities across Scotland.

Sport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council to promote proposals for a regional sports centre and Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen to encourage international teams competing in the Olympic and Commonwealth games to use Aberdeen as a training base.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by local athletes before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by international teams as a training base before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to proceed more quickly with proposals for an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen so that it will be available for use by local athletes ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Stewart Maxwell: Work is currently underway on the construction of the Chris Anderson Stadium multi-sport facility which will be suitable for hosting national and regional sporting events as well as providing a range of quality sporting facilities which will be available to local athletes and international teams.

  Our investment of £7 million in the development of this facility is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the provision of quality sports facilities across Scotland.

  The Scottish Government does not oppose the proposal to build an Olympic-standard 50m swimming pool in Aberdeen which is suitable for use by the community, high-performance training, hosting national and regional events or use as a training base. We continue to recognise the need for a 50 metre pool in the north east of Scotland, however, the proposal that is currently being proposed by Aberdeen City Council is not affordable.

  It is important that Aberdeen and its partners put together a bid that recognises the current maximum award levels available for a proposal of this nature.

  Any proposal produced by Aberdeen must be affordable and this is why I am currently encouraging the council to work with sportscotland to develop a project that is more cost effective and deliverable.

Sport

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current maximum award available is from sportscotland’s Building for Sport programme for a proposal such as the provision of a 50-metre swimming pool in Aberdeen.

Stewart Maxwell: The maximum award available under sportscotland’s Building for Sport programme is £1 million.

Sport

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a proposal for a 50-metre swimming pool in Aberdeen will attract support from sportscotland’s Building for Sport programme.

Stewart Maxwell: It is for sportscotland to determine if funding from the Building for Sport programme will be allocated to a 50m swimming pool in Aberdeen. They will make this assessment once they receive a realistic and viable proposal.

Student Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the costs of £29 million, £30 million and £60 million for 2008-09 to 2010-11 outlined on page 19 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 relate to the abolition of the graduate endowment fee.

Fiona Hyslop: An amount of £17 million in each year of the spending review has been included to replace lost income from the graduate endowment fee.

  Therefore the proportion each year is 59%, 57%, 28%.

Waste Management

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of risk to the general public would be incurred by transferring waste from the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory site to landfill or landraise, compared with the risk associated with leaving the site undisturbed.

Richard Lochhead: I am advised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that any transference of wastes can carry a certain degree of risk, however, providing that the transfer is carried out strictly in accordance with best practice and the relevant health and safety requirements, then the level of risk to the general public is likely to be low. It is the function of the environmental legislation for whose enforcement SEPA is responsible, and the health and safety legislation, to ensure that any risk is minimised or eliminated.

Waste Management

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether risk assessments of the waste transfer process at the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory site have been carried out, taking full account of the total length of time involved in such transfer.

Richard Lochhead: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a legal duty on every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons who may be affected by this undertaking are not exposed to risks to their health or safety. This duty will therefore fall to those employers that are involved in any future construction or operations at this site.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) enforces regulations relating to the transfer of work off-site. There are particular procedures for special, or hazardous, waste.

  SEPA have advised that they are not aware of any risk assessments at the Bishopton Royal Ordnance site relating to their own responsibilities. Risk assessments to comply with the 1974 act would be the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive whom you should approach for further information.

Waste Management

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether hazardous waste dumped into the cells designated for non-hazardous waste in the proposed Bishopton landraise, either because inadequate testing has failed to identify hazardous substances or through other error, would compromise the safety of the landraise.

Richard Lochhead: I am advised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that theoretically there is an element of risk that certain hazardous wastes disposed of in the proposed landfill or landraise sites designated for non-hazardous wastes could compromise the proposed lining system.

  However, this is highly unlikely, particularly in the absence of other serious factors relating either to the landfill engineering or to the site itself.